Boston will hold a public event on Tuesday, Apr. 21 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the Gazebo on the Square in Decatur. Two crime victims -- Charmagne Helton and Nichole Villafane -- will also be in attendance and will share their stories of survival.

For seven weeks, Helton and her two young children lived in a shelter after escaping their abusive husband and father.

"Being a victim of violence is a horrible thing, but it isn't the end of the story," Helton said. "With the right support, victims can become victors."

Villafane's 21-year-old son, Xavier "X" Arnold, was fatally shot during an attempted robbery. X, who attended the Savannah College of Art and Design, was taking photographs of graffiti on Kirkwood warehouses when he was killed. The suspect was only 14 years old.

"Because the accused for murdering my child is a juvenile, it's imperative that in life, we must reach out to our youth -- white, African American and other. Those are the ones that are at the highest risk, and we need to open our eyes and ears," Villafane said.

Boston said DeKalb County works "to prosecute every crime and for every victim to get the help they need."

"Unfortunately, people are sometimes hesitant to report crimes, and we want them to know they should not be afraid to come forward," Boston added. "Help is available, and it's important for those responsible to be held accountable in court."